Useful Advices

“It has happened on more than a few occasions to see friends who are collectors come to me with enthusiasm to show me their recent acquisitions and good deals that they just got. Telling them the truth or rather that in reality it wasn't a good deal but a rip off, I lost a few friends…”

One of the most important things to do when you want to acquire or sell a watch is the documentation. It is important to have rigorous information sources (this is why we recommend the books by Guido Mondani Editor) and reference points to remove any shadow of doubt.

The “great deal” is positively discouraged: if the price is too low, it is almost certain that there are anomalies as it is highly unlikely that a vendor would offer such a great deal to a private collector.
It’s better to spend a little more but obtain perfection doing so: “if you buy a watch at a great price with a defect on the dial (as for example a line or a little scratch) remember that each time you look at your watch, you won’t think about the money you saved but you will only see the defect.”

It is also fundamental to touch with your hands and see with your own eyes the object that you wish to buy, as the images on the internet are often touched up.

It's interesting to know the code of the metals that Rolex uses both for the watches and the bracelets.: in references with 5 and 6 digits, the last number always indicates the metal.

0 = steel
1= steel/ pink gold
2 = steel/ platinum
3 = steel/18 ct yellow gold
4= steel/18 ct white gold
5 = 18 ct pink gold
6 = platinum
8 = 18 ct yellow gold
9 = 18 ct white gold

It is important to always bring a lens with 10 magnifications with you in order to properly examine the watch.

You always have to follow the movement of the market and from world of collecting since collectors nowadays are ever more attentive to the details. Today for example there are many types of dials that create enormous differences between examples of the same model. This is the case for the reference 16610LV and 1680, that have 5 and 6 mark dials respectively (or rather 5 and 6 different types of dial that create enormous differences in price).

All the parts of the watch must be original or Rolex service replacement parts. The GMT ref. 1675 in stainless steel, for example, might seem to have been produced only with a red and blue bezel. If you look at an official Rolex catalogue today however, you can find that even a black bezel was available for this reference. We maintain therefore that the GMT – MASTER 1675 in stainless steel with black bezel must be considered an original Rolex.

The hands of a watch must perfectly match the dial in terms of size and colour. For example, if the dial has indexes with luminous material, the hands must also be luminous. If you find anomalies, be careful!

The most dangerous enemies to a watch are negligence, humidity, sea water and unskilled watchmakers. To conserve your watch in the best way possible, you must not forget that it is an instrument of the highest technology which needs to be respected and cared for. The service rendered by a watchmaker that has not been specifically prepared by courses of specialization held by the manufacturer can be deleterious to the watch.

Your watch must be conserved in a dry, aerated place, at a constant temperature between 2 and 30 degrees.